Employers and Manufacturers Association raises concerns about 'high' wage thresholds for eligibility
The New Zealand government is adding 10 new trades occupations to the Green List in a bid to address talent shortages in the country's manufacturing industry.
Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said the trades occupations will be added to the Green List's Work to Residence pathway starting August 18.
"This requires a migrant to have two years of work experience in the relevant occupation in New Zealand and be working for an Accredited Employer when they apply for residence," she said in a statement.
The occupations to be added include:
The addition of these trades occupations comes as employers in the manufacturing industry continue to report challenges in filling their vacancies.
"These are roles that our members have been struggling to fill for some time," said Joanna Hall, advocacy and stakeholder engagement lead at the Employers and Manufacturers Association, in a statement.
"The EMA has been pushing hard for greater recognition of these skilled trades roles in our immigration settings. These aren't just labour shortages, these are productivity chokepoints."
New Zealand's manufacturing industry contributes about $21.8 billion to the economy annually, according to Small Business and Manufacturing Minister Chris Penk, who stressed that gaps in the industry resulting from a tougher economic climate need to be addressed.
"Bringing in overseas talent will help lift productivity and ensure manufacturers across the country can seize opportunities to grow," he said.
"As these businesses unlock their potential, they'll be better positioned to expand, create new jobs and take on more local apprentices – driving prosperity and opportunity in communities across New Zealand."
Meanwhile, the EMA also raised concerns about the wage thresholds in the eligibility criteria being out of sync with real market conditions.
To be eligible for the Work to Residence Visa, applicants need to be paid at least $38.59 an hour, or $80,267 a year, for Paving Plant Operators, Panel Beaters, and Vehicle Painters, according to Immigration NZ.
For Metal Fabricator, Welder, Fitter, and Machinist roles, applicants should be earning at least $43.63 an hour, or $90,750 a year based on a 40-hour week.
"While we support mechanisms that uphold quality, the wage thresholds do seem high for certain roles and could limit access if they aren't aligned with industry rates," Hall said.
"We urge Immigration NZ to ensure these thresholds are grounded in reality."
The EMA also asked the government to recognise trades occupations in the Skilled Migrant Category, which allows migrant workers to stay in New Zealand indefinitely.
"It's important that the value of these trades is recognised not only in the Green List but also in the Skilled Migrant Category," Hall said.
